It's only a short segment, 14 metres, of what once was a one-mile long town wall built in 1265.
The Norman town of Ross had no protective walls around it for the first 58 years of its existence.
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, founder of the town, married Isabel de Clare, first daughter of Aoife of Leinster and Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. Aoife was the daughter of Diarmait Mac Murchadha. This relationship with the Mac Murchadha was a good deal to keep the Irish villains away from the town. But when problems arose within the Norman families of de Burgos and FitzGeralds FitzMaurice, the town people decided to build a fosse and a wall around Ross. All craftsmen were involved, and on Sundays the women as well gave their contribution.
When the walls were completed they included nine defensive towers and five gates. Today only one of them survives, The Maiden Gate.
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